Title: False
Author: Calic0cat
Pairing: Unrequited R+1, 1+2+1
Rating: PG
Warnings: Shonen ai/yaoi, language, nasty Relena (note: I do not consider
this Relena-bashing but rather one particular way that her character *could*
turn out based on observed behaviour during the series), death (not Heero
or Duo!).
GW500 Challenge: #23 Security
Words: 534

"You will break off all association with Maxwell immediately,"
Relena stated imperiously. "You will give your notice at Preventers
within the month and our engagement will be announced immediately thereafter.
By the end of the summer, we will be wed. Is that clear?"

Glaring at the young woman's smug expression, Heero gritted, "Perfectly."

"You understand the consequences if you defy me?"

"Yes." He did. He understood her none-too-subtle speculations
regarding what a shame it would be should it be discovered that a Sweeper
ship carrying a particular crewmember was - purportedly unknowingly - carrying
contraband along with its legitimate cargo. And regarding a host of other
disasters that could befall Heero's closest friends, especially one individual.

Content with his response, Relena lowered the privacy partition and directed
Pargan to drive on to the location of her next meeting. She settled back
into her seat, a self-satisfied look on her patrician face.

Power corrupted and absolute power corrupted absolutely. Vice Foreign
Minister Relena Darlian-Peacecraft was living proof of that adage. Over
the years since she'd taken her adoptive father's title, she'd gradually
reclaimed her royal heritage while gathering more political power to the
ministerial position that was once little more than a courtesy title. Now,
she considered herself a law unto herself, entitled to anything - or anyone
- she wanted.

Heero disagreed. Strongly. He hadn't fought and killed just to put
another arrogant, power-hungry aristocrat in control of Earth and the colonies.
And he would *not* tolerate any kind of threat to his friends, particularly
Duo. Despite the fact that he and Duo did not - yet - share the kind of
relationship that Relena seemed to believe that they did. He and Duo were
long past due for that particular conversation and Heero intended to remedy
that oversight shortly. Just as soon as he dealt with a certain blonde bitch
with delusions of grandeur - and one hell of a false sense of security.

***

Two weeks later, influential L4 businessman Quatre Winner was appointed
Vice Foreign Minister by popular acclaim mere days after the former Minister
was tragically bitten by a rare and deadly species of spider. The arachnid
was believed to have entered her residence along with several exotic plants
imported from its country of origin. Ironically, proper inspection and quarantine
procedures had been waived at the Minister's express request; she'd wanted
the flowering plants delivered while still in bloom.

They made a lovely funerary arrangement.

The next day, a fast-spreading virus swept through computer systems across
the Earth Sphere. It left in its wake extensive documentation revealing
corruption at the highest levels of government, especially in the person
of the now-deceased Darlian-Peacecraft. Appalled politicians and public
alike rallied in support of Vice Foreign Minister Winner's call for reform.

Suicide rates amongst the accused, particularly the staff of the disgraced
former Minister Darlian-Peacecraft, were exceptionally high.

Later that summer, Minister Winner hosted the wedding of two of his closest
friends. Following their honeymoon, the Maxwell-Yuys would be joining his
already-formidable security staff and working to make it even better. There
was always room for improvement; it wouldn't do to be lulled into a false
sense of security.